A 27-year-old Spanish pianist learned practicing her chops was more than a petty nuisance for her nerve-wracked neighbor. Following a legal complaint, the Catalan musician is facing seven-and-a-half years in jail for the crime of noise pollution.

Laia Martin, a concert pianist from the northeast Spanish town of
Puigcerda, has been officially charged with creating noise
pollution and causing "psychiatric injury", the El Pais newspaper
reports.

The plaintiff, identified only as Sonia B, claimed she was forced
to endure her downstairs neighbor’s 8 hour marathon sessions
five-days-a week between October 2003 and September 2007. At the
time, Martin, who now plays professionally, was enrolled in music
college.

Sonia B told the court she now hates pianos and was ultimately
forced to move out. She claims the music affected her
sleeping, led to nervousness, anxiety, panic attacks and
contributed to the town’s noise pollution.

Martin denies she played at home so frequently, saying she often
left town to take lessons.

If found guilty, she could be sentenced to six years for the
crime of creating noise pollution, and a year-and-a-half for
causing mental anguish. She could also be barred from playing for
4 years.

A Catalonia Justice Tribunal spokeswoman told the daily, on
condition of anonymity, that the trial would proceed on Tuesday
and is set to conclude on Friday.